When you hear the term 'essential worker' a zookeeper probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind, but many are working through lockdown, looking after the animals in their care. This week, a story from within producer Claire Concannon's bubble of one such person.
Magnificent Owl butterfly in the tropical forest Photo: Supplied / Otago Museum
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The tropical forest at Otago Museum is a three story enclosed space kept at an average temperature of 27oC and full of living plants and animals. It is also a butterfly house. Each week hundreds of butterfly pupae are shipped to the museum from the Philippines or Costa Rica, to hatch in the quarantine room, before being released into the forest.
Butterfly pupae Photo: Supplied / Otago Museum
Tūhura and Living Environments Coordinator Dr. Tony Stumbo is responsible for the day-to-day care of the tropical forest and the living creatures inside it. Equipped with a microphone, Tony takes us through his checks and protocols for the pupae that arrive into the museum, as well as the daily care and feeding of the other animals and insects in the forest.
A butterfly in the tropical forest. Photo: Supplied / Otago Museum
